My Mobiles

Menu

Phones Tablets Smartwatches Brands Networks Coverage Vouchers SIM Only News PAC Code Guides Top Up Guides
Type to search phones, brands, and deals
esc to close

Vodafone eSIM: how to get one, set it up and move it to a new phone

Checked 23 September 2026

Yes, Vodafone supports eSIM. Every SIM only plan, pay monthly or Pay as you go Plus, can be ordered as an eSIM, and phones bought from Vodafone can come with one. Vodafone does not list a separate eSIM charge. Existing customers switch in My Vodafone: Settings, Plan settings, Manage, Manage my SIM, then Activate my eSIM.

Vodafone eSIM at a glance

eSIM available on
Pay monthly phones, SIM only and Pay as you go Plus
Cost
No separate eSIM fee listed
Where to get it
Pick eSIM at checkout, or use My Vodafone if you're already a customer
Swap from a physical SIM
My Vodafone, or Convert to eSIM in iPhone settings
Smartwatch eSIM
OneNumber, from £7.50 a month (pay monthly customers only)
Quick compatibility check
Dial *#06# - if an EID shows, your phone supports eSIM

Which Vodafone plans support eSIM

Plan typeeSIMNotes
Pay monthly Yes Order a phone with an eSIM. The eSIM is linked to the phone and downloads when you first switch it on and connect to Wi-Fi.
SIM only Yes Every SIM only plan (30-day, 12 or 24 months) is sold as an eSIM. Choose eSIM at checkout.
Pay As You Go Yes New customers can get an eSIM on Pay as you go Plus, the rolling 30-day plan. Existing Pay as you go customers can switch from a physical SIM to eSIM on a compatible phone.
Business Yes Firms with 10 or more employees are handled through Vodafone's separate business eSIM page.

How to get a Vodafone eSIM

New SIM only customer

  1. Choose a pay monthly SIM only or Pay as you go Plus plan.
  2. Select eSIM at checkout.
  3. Vodafone emails you a QR code.
  4. Open the email on a second screen and scan the code with your phone. No second screen? Type the details in by hand from the email attachment.
  5. If your phone already has a SIM, pick which line to use for data and as your default number.

New customer buying a phone

  1. Order your phone with an eSIM.
  2. When it arrives, switch it on and connect to Wi-Fi.
  3. Follow the on-screen prompts to download your eSIM.
  4. If you skip this step, use the QR code Vodafone sends by email instead.

Existing customer switching from a physical SIM

  1. On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Mobile Service, pick your Vodafone SIM and tap Convert to eSIM.
  2. No Convert option, or using Android? Log in to My Vodafone.
  3. Go to Settings, then Plan settings, and tap Manage under your plan.
  4. Open Manage my SIM and choose Activate my eSIM, then follow the steps.

No SIM card, or you can't log in

  1. Start a chat with Vodafone from its contact page.
  2. Vodafone can set up the eSIM for you if you can't receive the log-in code.

Activating your Vodafone eSIM

  1. Check your phone is network unlocked and connected to stable Wi-Fi.
  2. Open the QR code email on another device.
  3. On your phone, go to the mobile network settings and add an eSIM or data plan.
  4. Scan the QR code, or enter the details manually.
  5. When asked, choose the Vodafone eSIM for data and as your default number. You can change this later.
  6. Once signal appears, the eSIM is live.

SIM only orders come with a QR code by email. Phones bought from Vodafone can download the eSIM during setup, with the QR code as a backup. You need Wi-Fi and an unlocked phone either way. Vodafone says a replacement SIM can take up to 24 hours to go live at busy times, but it is usually much faster. Stuck? Call 191, free from a Vodafone mobile.

Which phones work with a Vodafone eSIM

Most recent phones work, including iPhone XS and later, Samsung Galaxy phones from 2020 onwards, Google Pixel 3 and later, and some HONOR and Motorola models. The iPhone Air and iPhone Duo only take an eSIM. To check yours, dial *#06#: if an EID number appears, it supports eSIM. The phone must also be unlocked, and Vodafone notes that a listed model can still lack eSIM depending on where it was sold.

Vodafone's list of eSIM-compatible devices

If your Vodafone eSIM is not working

No Convert to eSIM option on my iPhone

Install the latest iOS update and check again. If it still isn't there, request a new eSIM in My Vodafone: Settings, Plan settings, Manage, Manage my SIM, Activate my eSIM.

I deleted my eSIM by mistake

Your plan is not cancelled. Vodafone automatically emails a new QR code. Open it on another device, then add a data plan in your phone's mobile settings and scan it.

I can't log in or have no SIM to receive the code

Start a chat with Vodafone. It can set up the eSIM for you.

The eSIM won't install

Your phone must be network unlocked. If it's locked to another provider, ask them to unlock it first. Also check you're on stable Wi-Fi.

My older eSIM doesn't get 5G+

Request a new eSIM in My Vodafone (Manage my SIM, then Activate my eSIM). Vodafone says this gives access to newer services such as 5G+.

Vodafone eSIM FAQs

Is Vodafone eSIM free?
Vodafone does not list a separate charge for eSIM. You pay for your plan, pick eSIM at checkout, and existing customers set it up themselves in My Vodafone. A OneNumber plan for a smartwatch is a paid extra.
Can I keep my number when I switch to eSIM?
Yes. Your number moves from the physical SIM to the eSIM. A number can only be active on one SIM at a time.
How do I move my Vodafone eSIM to a new phone?
iPhone to iPhone: on the new iPhone, go to Settings, add an eSIM, pick Transfer from nearby iPhone and confirm on the old one. For any other move, delete the eSIM from the old phone first. Vodafone then emails a QR code to scan on the new phone. If you no longer have the old phone, request a new eSIM in My Vodafone.
Can I use an eSIM and a physical SIM together?
Yes, on a dual SIM phone. Each SIM has its own number. Compatible phones can also hold more than one eSIM profile, but each eSIM only works on one device at a time.
Does a Vodafone eSIM work abroad?
Yes. It works exactly like a physical SIM, so your plan's normal roaming terms apply. An Apple Watch on OneNumber cannot roam by itself: it only works abroad when it's near your paired phone.
What if my phone with an eSIM is lost or stolen?
Report it on Vodafone's lost or stolen page as soon as possible so your SIM can be barred. Then request a new eSIM in My Vodafone, or chat to Vodafone to get a physical SIM instead.
Can I get an eSIM for my smartwatch?
Yes, through OneNumber. It shares your phone plan's minutes, texts and data with a cellular watch. You need a Vodafone pay monthly airtime plan, and it costs from £7.50 a month. Since 3 September 2026 it's included on plans with Premier in the name. It works with Apple Watch Series 3 cellular and later, Galaxy Watch 4G models, Google Pixel Watch and OPPO Watch.
Did the VodafoneThree merger change the Vodafone eSIM process?
No. As of September 2026, Vodafone customers still get and manage their eSIM through My Vodafone, separately from Three's My3 and Three app process.

Sources

Every fact on this page was checked against Vodafone's own help pages on 23 September 2026. Processes change, so check the official page before you start.